A Bird in the Bush

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Headed west along the Murray River we stopped at a picnic area on Middle Reedy Lake near Kerang. Middle Reedy is recognised as the largest breeding ground in the world for ibis, and in spring more than 100,000 birds gather here to breed. It would be great to see the sunrise/sunset flight to or from the roosts. There is an elevated hide, walking tracks and good facilities. But in mid-winter there were no waterbirds.

The shrubs around our picnic table however brought in a good number of bush birds.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Leeton is actually a top spot, I discovered on my first visit. Walking/cycling tracks run for miles, there are great little coffee shops and restaurants, excellent state parks and wonderful landscapes and two Ramsar listed wetlands of international importance. Best visited in the warmer months when thousands of migratory birds call the area home, even in the middle of winter there was plenty to see (although this winter was unusual as there was still quite a lot of water after last years floods, the wetlands can be dry at this time).

The facilities at Fivebough and Tuckerbill Swamps suffered quite a bit of damage during the floods but the walking tracks, hides, and seating have been rebuilt. It was woolly hat cold when I was there but the walks were pleasant in the morning sun.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

From Winton I headed east along the Capricorn Highway through towns where I spent my childhood. In Aramac, where my grandparents lived I came across this Kingfisher outside the little tramways museum. In Barcaldine I camped at the Showground where every evening the trees filled with Cockatoos, Corellas and Lorikeets.

Little Corella

Rainbow Lorikeet

I camped outside Clermont at the Theresa Creek Dam, built since I moved south to provide water for the Blackwater and Blair Athol mines. Whistling Kites soared and called, Pale-headed Rosellas and Rainbow Lorikeet came down to drink, and good numbers of Egrets, Ducks, Coots, Native Hens, Morehens and Swamphens edged the water. Comb-crested Jacana walked on the water lillies, and Apostlebirds and Grey-crowned Babbler fussed around in the shrubs.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Bladensburg National Park

There are a number of mapped and captioned self-drive routes out of Winton, and we took the Route of the River Gum south. With Dusty in the car we were unable to stop in the National Park but it was an interesting drive with mesas or Jump-ups interrupting the broad plains, and vegetation changing from Mitchell Grass to Spinifex, open woodlands of Bloodwood and Mulga, and Lancewood on the escarpments.

A group of Halls Babbler crossed the road in front of us, and at a creek crossing Cockateil flew up into the trees as we passed. Mixed groups of Woodswallow gathered near Mistake Creek. Emu, Brolga and Australian Bustard kept their distance from the road.

Long Waterhole

Cockatiel

The Winton Visitor Information Centre publishes a useful guide to bird watching locations in the shire so armed with this we set off for the Long Waterhole, about 2k out of town on the Jundah road. There were a good number of people camping here but the birds were still plentiful. It was good to abandon my problem camera and just sit and watch: Spinifex Pigeon, Budgerigar, Zebra Finch, Australian Pratincole, Brown Falcon, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Brown Honeyeater

Brown Quail

Emu

White-necked Heron

Pelican Waterhole

The settlement was originally at Pelican Waterhole, but was moved as the danger of flooding became apparent. The only pelican was a commemorative statue, but there were good numbers of Black-faced, White-browed and Masked Woodswallows, and a group of half-a-dozen Brolga, plus Jacky Winter and White-plumed Honeyeater.

Jacky Winter

Masked Woodswallow

Brolga

Cooling Dams

Near the Showgrounds are a series of ponds where the artesian water is cooled for town use.

Monday, May 13, 2013

We checked into the Matilda Country Tourist Park, where we were given a great spot under a group of trees, and set up our 'big camp', a screened gazebo under which we could have a little tent for sleeping, Dusty's crate, a kitchen table, and a chair and coffee table. It was HOT, and flies were BAD, so we were the envy of those who had to choose between the caravan and the open.

Birding was good from the gazebo with Yellow-throated Miners, White-plumed Honeyeaters, and Inland Thornbills foraging in and under the trees, and a dripping tap attracting a steady stream of birds.

Apostlebird

Of an evening birds gathered on the powerlines to bath in pools left behind by the sprinkler.

My lens is getting more frustrating - producing great images for a while and then refusing to give me anything other than an overexposed blur for minutes or hours. These two were taken immediately one after the other.